Viking World Museum
About Viking World Museum
The Viking World Museum is built around a real ship that sailed from Iceland to New York. Known in Icelandic as Víkingaheimar, it stands on the shore of Njarðvík in Reykjanesbær, about 10 minutes from Keflavík Airport, which makes it an easy first or last stop of a trip.
The ship is Íslendingur, a full-size replica of the Gokstad ship, a Viking vessel dug up in Norway in 1882. Shipbuilder and captain Gunnar Marel Eggertsson built it in 1996, and in 2000 he sailed it across the North Atlantic by way of Greenland and L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, reaching New York on October 5. At about 23 meters long, with an 18-meter mast, it dominates the main hall, which looks out over Faxaflói Bay.
Two exhibitions fill out the visit. Vikings of the North Atlantic first opened at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington in 2000 and covers how Norse people explored and settled from Scandinavia to North America. The Settlement of Iceland exhibition tells how the country itself was claimed.
Viking World is open year-round, from 9:00 to 17:00 in summer and 10:00 to 16:00 in winter. Adult tickets cost 3,420 ISK, children under 12 get in free with an adult, and students and people with disabilities get a discount. Parking is free, and the building is wheelchair accessible with an elevator.
Most people spend 60 to 90 minutes here, which fits a long layover or a slow arrival day. From Reykjavík, the drive takes about 45 minutes along Route 41, and Strætó bus 55 from the airport stops a short walk away.
Good to know
How much does the Viking World Museum cost?
Adult tickets cost 3,420 ISK. Children under 12 get in free with an adult, and students and people with disabilities get a discount with valid ID.
What are the Viking World Museum opening hours?
The museum is open year-round, from 9:00 to 17:00 in summer and from 10:00 to 16:00 in winter.
How far is the Viking World Museum from Keflavík Airport?
It's about a 10-minute drive from Keflavík Airport in Reykjanesbær. Strætó bus 55 from the airport also stops a short walk from the museum.
What is the Íslendingur ship?
Íslendingur is a full-size replica of the Gokstad Viking ship, built by Gunnar Marel Eggertsson in 1996. In 2000 it sailed from Iceland to New York, and it's now the centerpiece of the Viking World Museum.
How long do you need at the Viking World Museum?
Plan on 60 to 90 minutes to see the ship and both exhibitions.
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